It’s true that I live in the South, but I have lived in cold climates as well. Trying to figure out how to stay active in the winter can be a challenge. Especially when, according to MizFit, the average person eats over 600 extra calories a day during the holiday season! No wonder a lot of us gain weight this time of year! So in honor of that extremely startling calorie statistic, here are 20 things you can do to stay active during the winter season!
1. Make a commitment to do something on a regular basis. It doesn’t have to be 6 days like I do – but commit to regular movement!
2. Take advantage of those malls that open early for walkers. It’s not just for old people!
3. Join a gym. Often times, especially in colder climates, gyms offer short term memberships.
4. Go to your gym. If you are already a member – go already!
5. Take advantage of warmer days. Even in the Northeast, there are days that warm up a bit. Make sure to jump outside and take advantage of the sun.
6. Find a new DVD workout to try. Here are some I like:
Leslie Sansone: Walk Away the Pounds – Complete In-Home Walking System
Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred
7. If you have stairs available, either at work or at home – use them often!
8. Create a home gym. By looking at classified ads, you often can equip a small home gym for yourself for very little money!
9. Check out a local university. Often times you can use the university’s gym/pool facilities for a very low yearly fee. For us, it’s $100 for the family, for the year.
10. Put some music on and dance!
11. If you have snow on the ground, try some cross country skiing or skating. Both are great exercise – just don’t break anything.
12. Find a workout partner. Often times this helps hold you accountable and gets you out of the house when you might otherwise stay in.
13. Work on strengthening and toning your muscles. Check out Jody’s site for lots of information, both for the beginner and the advanced!
14. Watch your food intake. I know this isn’t directly related to exercise, but it does go hand in hand.
15. Get warmed up first. If you are warmed up a bit before exercising in the cold, it really helps.
16. After you work out in the cold weather, don’t take off all your layers as soon as you get inside. Give your body a chance to acclimate to the warmer temperature for a few minutes.
17. Dress in layers. This makes a huge difference. When I did the Turkey Trot Thursday the temperature was 32 degrees. I wore a short sleeve shirt and then a warm running fleece on top of it. Even with the wind and the cold after the big hill, I took off the fleece. Then when I finished I put it back on because I got cold!
18. While you are watching TV – don’t just sit there – do something! Do crunches, or grab some light weights instead of a bag of cookies!
19. Use every opportunity you can to move your body, be it parking farther away from the door or getting up yourself to get something rather than asking your family member to get it. (Not that I ever do that. 
)
20. Pay attention to your body. Know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite. Be fit, but be careful!!
Do you have any ideas on staying fit during these winter months? I have a new pair of running tights on my Christmas list. I really think they will help me! Diane
Diane,
Being here in Wisconsin…it’s all too easy to use weather as an excuse for not getting out and exercising in the winter. Yesterday I bundled up and went for a run – and even worked up a sweat in the process! Not every day, though, do I show this same commitment. So – I love your list!! I have the home gym already, so I have no excuse. And…I have cross country skis, and a place to use them right outside my back door. Gosh! I really have NO excuse! Okay…I’m going to take a walk over to the cookie jar…*ahem*…I mean fruit bowl now!
Great stuff for me to read today – thank YOU!!
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
buy a roll of reflective tape so you lose those (MY?) excuses about not wanting to go out in the early am or near dark.
LOVE the list as I used all of those when I lived on the east coast.
now Im wimpy and FIFTY DEGREES is deemed “wintry” for me
Miz´s last blog ..Tips for workout motivation (giveaway post).
I LOVE to shovel snow! Best workout ever. But will it snow everyday? Maybe if I beg for it?
Yum Yucky´s last blog ..Deep Dark Secrets in the Yum Yucky Kitchen
I am already signed up for a bike race next year. Exercising takes on a whole new meaning when you have an event planned. It becomes Training which is not an option but a must do!
I also signed up with a trainer at the Health Club I go to. I was having a hard time getting myself to do weights. (30 minutes, M,W,F.) Now it is no longer an option. I have someone waiting for me at a specific time. Plus I paid for it so I won’t cancel lightly.
Growing up in Wisconsin you learn to embrace Winter. The key is to dress warm and in layers and get out in the sunshine.
Mia
One other no brainer for winter exercise that works very well during the holiday shopping season. You know those super size stores like Super Walmart, Super Target and so forth ? Visit them often to shop but before you begin to shop, walk the entire perimeter of the store twice, and then head up and down the isles to make your purchases. I have found that this move also cuts down on some impulse buying for some reason. I live in the Chicago suburbs and indoor walking is a blessing in the cold months !
Diane´s last blog ..Movie Sunday and Zuchini boats
tobaggan run or a really big hill.
We go to an actual run a couple times each winter. Each family hauls their own sleds up the path and up the many stairs to the top of the run.
I am not brave enough to get back on skates – because of my knees and lower back – but ice skating is a good activity too. And if the cold isn’t your thing – roller rinks are still out there.
vickie´s last blog ..Goal Week – new underwear post (and we are not sharing this little diddy with the middle child. . .)
Great tips! I used many of them before I joined the gym. I especially liked the mall walking! Nice to “window shop” without the crowds
These are such good tips. And you thought of 20 of them! I also like to use shoveling snow as exercise, although we don’t get tons of snow fortunately.
I also try and just move more during the day. Great tips and now we have no excuses anymore!
I live in the Northeast, and these are really great, timely tips. One that is particularly important is getting warmed up before you go outside. If it’s below freezing it’s hard to get really warmed up in the beginning of a workout. I do wish I lived in a warmer climate sometimes!
Great tips! It hasn’t even gotten really cold here and I’m already dreading the thought of leaving the gym with a layer of sweat and going outside into the winter air.
I love these tips, I use them not only for winter time but when I go home for a holiday and I don’t have access to my gym membership…my mom’s stairs have had me do many a workouts on them.
Marcelle´s last blog ..First Week On WW New Plan
I’m amazed at what a great workout just walking up and down the stairs can be, if you do it over and over, as I do. Everytime I brave the cold, it’s never as bad as I think it’s going to be…must remember that.
Amy H.´s last blog ..Ham and Chutney Pasta Salad
These are all great tips! Really 600 calories more a day???? To stay focused I signed up for a 1/2 marathon at the end of January. And yes, a new pair of running tights always helps!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City)´s last blog ..Mini Holiday Meltdown
Thanks for the tips. I’m a member of the YMCA here, but it’s a little difficult when I go and visit my parents in a really small town in Nebraska for Christmas break. It’s always really cold there, and it’s difficult to get exercise in. I usually just have to brave the cold, and try to get out there!
So comprehensive Diane!!!! GREAT suggestions for all & love #4!!! Course I love the gym & go there 4 days per week. My 5th day is an outside jog & even here in southern CA, it still gets in the high 30’s & low 40’s in the winter.. or at least early early morn when I jog it is still that cold outside! I bundle in layers & away I go. I don’t let it stop me! I also like watching the food & I DO park further away if it is safe! All great stuff! AND thx for mentioning me!
Ah, the today post did not show so I will do another so you know that I am having a giveaway for that great tote today!!!!
Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..GIVEAWAY for Large Tote Bag!
I AM #10: Dance! Winter, summer, rain, sunshine, I JUST/ONLY DANCE. No matter where you go, what the weather, what little or much time you have, you can dance!
Sunny´s last blog ..Back in the saddle, again!
These are great tips, and I have already gone to the gym twice this week because the cold made me shudder at the thought of going outside!
erin´s last blog ..All About Bailey
Great list! This is one of the reasons I hate the winter in New England. Personally I think a gym membership is a must….and one you can get to on public transportation!
Lauren @ Eater not a runner´s last blog ..hungry hungry tuesday
Excellent list. Love the idea of doing something while watching TV – a no-brainer that my brain missed.
Leslie´s last blog ..Anti-progress or Fear of Success?
Great tips! I need to incorporate #15. With the dip in temps, it takes my body longer to warm up on my walks, which is a bit uncomfortable. I’ll try it later today!
Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Fitness Wish List
Thanks for putting together a list. I’m going to put on my playlist now and dance. I hope that will kick-start my umph for more exercise.
Gina Fit by 41, Maybe 42´s last blog ..Off Track
Between this post and MizFit’s post today, I am now fully motivated!!! Great tips, and thanks for the reminder about layering – I need to go get a thin long-sleeved shirt to add to my layers.
Shelley B´s last blog ..Another Benefit to Weight Loss
I usually try to get to the gym in the morning, but during the winter, I go after work. My house sits on a huge corner lot, so shoveling tons of snow and de-icing my sidewalks takes for-ev-er in the morning. I am transitioning from AM workouts to PM workouts this week, we might get snow this weekend!
Erin´s last blog ..My Quarter-Life Crisis / Birthday
I finally put some heavy dumbbells beside my take-it-easy chair. Now that basketball season’s here, I foresee spending too much time on my behind, so at least I can work on building up my arms if nothing else.
Thanks for the tips.
Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit´s last blog ..Snakes and Ladders
One word: treadmill!
As you said, Diane, THE decision to exercise is the crucial crossroads in a person’s health and fitness.
Dr. J´s last blog ..Dr. J on revisiting the Body Mass Index
Great tips!! You have an award on my blog.
Melissa´s last blog ..Blog Awards, Running, Mindless Eating, Christmas Shopping, and Vacation
Looks like a great list and I’ll try to remember these any day when I’m needing a little motivation. I live in Florida, so we might have one week of “winter” and then it might get down in the 40’s, but generally it’s 70’s or above. I’m already thinking about next summer and how will I ever get out and walk/jog/run in that heat? LOL Guess I’ll stay tuned to your blog and maybe you’ll have a post about that in a few months, huh?
Josie´s last blog ..Mmm…Olive Garden
I”m a Leslie Sansone fan myself and will keep doing her DVDs. Plus, I’ve been going to the gym two days a week to “run” on the elliptical and do weights. I plan on keeping that up!
I met a lady a long time ago who still went walking all winter, even if there was snow. She was probably between 50-60 years old. She said she had warm layers and some nice walking boots that she used when there was snow or slush on the ground.
I thought that was a lot of work, but she said she liked it because the boots added some extra weight to her walking workout. She amazed me.
Very timely post, Diane!
I like the buy new running tights idea. That should keep me motivated. I love my exercise DVDs and I am trying a Jazzercise class tonight. But I am 54 and I walk 4 miles outside every day, all year round. I may miss one day a year because of weather but I put Yak Traks on my walking shoes and go even if there is ice and snow. Last year I trained for a half marathon through ice and snow in January, even doing some of my long 10-12 mile walks on those days. I need to be outside, just hate the gym.
Hi Diane. Going out there for my walk on a cold damp night can be REALLY difficult. But on the positive side I don’t suffer the discomfort of getting overheated like in the summer. Also the cold turns up my metabolism in general – burns a few more calories.
Leslie Sansone is great as well – she has free videos on youtube so you can check it out before deciding to buy.
Best wishes,
Bearfriend xx
Bearfriend´s last blog ..Day 16: Thoughts on rigidity, chaos and "normal" eating
This winter I’m determined to find extra ways to get exercise because I KNOW that if I just stick with the gym sometimes it just can’t happen, we get so much snow. So I think I will take some time to figure out my other options. Thanks for this post!
Robin´s last blog ..My Life Right Now
I forgot that I have 30 day shred! I will have to pull it out.
I love to run outside but, am a total wuss when it gets even a bit cold. My treadmill gets lots of use in the winter.
I plan on learning to cross country ski this year with my kids if it ever snows!
Karyn´s last blog ..Only 30 days left–Hot 100 update!
Great tips! I am sorely lacking in extra activity right now, so I think this is my wake up call! Thanks for the kick in the pants ; )
Pam´s last blog ..Its Beginning To Look A Lot. Like….
I wish they made bikes with heated seats and handle bars! That would get me out the door. That is my favorite type of exercise but the spinning classes will do through the winter as well.
Great suggestions!
#18 is a must! I do my strength training with 8 lb dumbbells while I watch TV twice a week. It’s an easy way to sneak in the toning work without feeling like I’m doing another workout!
Great tips Diane!
I will keep on running through this winter. Have to say we don’t have that cold winters usually, maybe a few days in the season. And I will keep on going to the gym.
Fran´s last blog ..A day in my life: Tuesday December 1st 2009
Thanks for all of these great tips! Shoveling snow is always a good workout!
Well, I have really bad knees, so I don’t run anyways…my home gym is my go-to for the winter. My elliptical is easier on my knees and I get weight training with my bowflex. Plus…I don’t really like being outside in the cold! I also have some turbo jam vidoes that I have been meaning to get into. I have actually (finally!) lost weight in the last week or so (skipped those Thanksgiving desserts), so my motivation is back.
Stacy´s last blog ..More looming and a little sewing
I love my elliptical computer desk. I can blog and workout in the comfort of my home!
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if I come to you, will you be my workout buddy? I could use a little shot in the arm…. no where do you live again?!?
my kashi diet´s last blog ..what is too much?…..
These are great ideas Diane. Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to need some additional motivation once January is here.
Kat´s last blog ..Hot 100 Challenge – Update #7